Katherine Schieffelin Joins NRAEF as SVP

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) announced that Katherine Speyer Schieffelin has joined the foundation as senior vice president and chief development officer.

Schieffelin brings more than a decade of experience in management, fundraising, and campaign planning to the NRAEF and will aid in the foundation’s mission to enhance the industry’s service to the public through education, community engagement, and the promotion of career opportunities.

In her new role, Schieffelin will be responsible for leading and executing current and future strategies to build a strong fundraising culture and programs that meet annual and long-term foundation goals.

“Katherine brings extensive fundraising experience and knowledge to the NRAEF,” says Rob Gifford, executive vice president of philanthropic initiatives for the NRAEF. “Resource development is integral to supporting the foundation’s mission, and we’re confident that she will be a strong strategic leader who can drive our fundraising activities to new heights.”

Schieffelin joins the NRAEF most recently from the Darden Business School at the University of Virginia, where she served as vice president of development.

Prior to that, Schieffelin served as part of the senior management development team at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was one of its top fundraisers.

She is a graduate of Skidmore College and received a law degree from Pace University. During her career, Schieffelin led the Darden School development team to break new records in a $150 million campaign, served as a senior strategist for Wharton’s $550 million campaign, and has personally solicited and secured more than $60 million in gifts-to-date.

“I am thrilled to kick off the New Year by joining the Foundation team,” Schieffelin says. “I am excited to develop new and winning strategies for the foundation, as we continue our mission to attract, develop, and retain a career-oriented professional workforce and illustrate the range of opportunities the restaurant industry provides.”

According to the National Restaurant Association, total restaurant and foodservice employment is projected to grow by 11 percent over the next 10 years, and the NRAEF is committed to ensuring it supports the development of a highly trained and professional talent pool.

Through donations and industry partners, the NRAEF celebrated another successful year in 2012, awarding $3 million in scholarships and ProStart support to students, educators, and state restaurant association partners to feed their dreams and build their futures in the restaurant industry.

ProStart is a nationwide, two-year program for high school students that unites the industry and the classroom to develop tomorrow’s restaurant leaders.

With national and local support from industry members, educators, state restaurant associations, and the NRAEF, ProStart reaches 1,700 schools and 90,000 students around the U.S.